Visa Bulletin May 2025 – Final Action Dates, Priority Chart & Green Card Updates

The U.S. Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for May 2025, and it's a key update for anyone waiting on green card processing, especially those from high-demand countries like India and China. Whether you're applying through an employer (EB categories), family-based sponsorship, or the Diversity Visa Lottery, this bulletin gives a clear picture of your wait time and next steps.

In this blog, we’ll explain everything you need to know — from priority date movement to how to check your visa category status — in a simplified and SEO-friendly format.

📊 What is the Visa Bulletin?

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly document published by the U.S. Department of State, which tells applicants when they can proceed with their immigrant visa applications (green cards). It includes two main tables:

• Final Action Dates: The date when a visa can actually be issued.

• Dates for Filing: The earliest date you can file your application.

Your priority date (the date your petition was filed) must be earlier than the cutoff date listed in the bulletin to take the next step.

🧑‍💼 Employment-Based Visa Categories – Final Action Dates (May 2025)

EB-1 (Priority Workers)

• India: 15 Feb 2022

• China: 8 Nov 2022

• All Other Countries: Current

EB-2 (Advanced Degree Professionals)

• India: 1 Jan 2013

• China: 1 Oct 2020

• All Others: 22 Jun 2023

EB-3 (Skilled Workers & Professionals)

• India: 15 Apr 2013 (Moved forward by 15 days)

• China: 1 Nov 2020

• Rest of the World: 1 Jan 2023

EB-4 (Special Immigrants)

• All Countries: Unavailable

EB-5 (Investor Visas)

• India (Unreserved): 1 May 2019 (Retrogressed)

• China: 22 Jan 2014

• Other Countries & Set-Asides: Current

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-Based Immigration – Dates for Filing (May 2025)

• F1 (Unmarried Children of U.S. Citizens): 1 Sept 2017

• F2A (Spouses/Children of Green Card Holders): 1 Feb 2025

• F2B (Unmarried Adult Children of Green Card Holders): 1 Jan 2017

• F3 (Married Children of U.S. Citizens): 22 Jul 2012

• F4 (Siblings of U.S. Citizens): 1 Jun 2008

📌 Note: Filing dates vary by country. Always cross-check for country-specific cutoffs.

🌍 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery May 2025 Cutoffs

The Diversity Visa 2025 program provides 52,000 green cards to individuals from countries with historically low immigration to the U.S.

Regional Cut-Offs:

• Africa: 35,000

• Asia: 6,500

• Europe: 16,000

• Oceania: 1,550

• South America/Caribbean: 2,250

• North America (Bahamas): 20

If your DV case number is below the cutoff for your region, you're eligible for interview and further processing in May.

🧠 How to Read the Bulletin (Simplified)

1. Find Your Category (EB2, EB3, F1, etc.)

2. Check Your Priority Date (On I-140 or I-130 receipt)

3. Compare It with Cutoff Date in the Visa Bulletin

4. If Current or Earlier – You're eligible to proceed

📈 What's New in May 2025 Visa Bulletin?

• EB-3 India moved forward slightly — good news for long-waiting applicants.

• EB-5 India retrogressed — a sign of high demand.

• EB-4 remains unavailable — category remains paused.

• Family categories mostly unchanged — slow movement, especially F4.

✅ Useful Tips

• Sign up for email alerts at uscis.gov to get automatic updates.

• Consider adjustment of status (Form I-485) if already in the U.S. and your date is current.

• Consult with a qualified immigration attorney for complex cases or retrogressions.

🔗 Useful Partner Resources

Looking to digitize your immigration law firm or launch a visa advisory portal?

• BloomxSolutions.in – For web development & SEO in immigration niche

• BisaniBrothers.com – News, legal blogs & career updates

• NewishTechnology.com – Complete tech setup for legal consultants

• Genix.in.net – Hosting, domain, and startup packages

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

📌 What is a priority date?

It’s the date your green card petition was officially filed. You must wait for this to become “current.”

📌 What does “Current” mean in Visa Bulletin?

It means there’s no backlog in that category and region — you can apply immediately.

📌 What if my date is not current?

You have to wait. Keep monitoring the bulletin every month.

📝 Final Thoughts

The Visa Bulletin for May 2025 offers mixed signals — while some categories are moving, others are either stalled or retrogressed. Patience, preparation, and timely action remain key. Whether you’re an H-1B holder from India or an F2B applicant from the Philippines, tracking this monthly update can significantly impact your immigration journey.

Keep yourself updated, and if you need help growing your legal or consulting website in this space, don't forget to check out our partners listed above.